FEBRUARY

ENLISTMENT MONTH FOR WOMEN’S MISSIONARY AUXILIARY

February is the month that has been set aside by the National WMA to encourage women to become active in their local church’s women’s ministry.  Due to COVID, many of our churches and their ministries have experienced a decline in attendance during the past two years.  Hope-fully we will soon see an end to this pandemic.

The National WMA theme for 2021-2022 is “INTENTIONAL”. Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”   As we try to build our attendance back up, I challenge each lady of your women’s ministry to be “intentional” in encouraging new ladies to attend your meetings by making the most of every opportunity.

Ways to be Intentional:

  • Individually invite each lady in your church to come to your meetings or Bible Study (in person, by telephone, text, or email)
  • Have the meetings or Bible Study times printed in your church’s bulletin, Facebook Page, and website
  • Promote the topic of your meeting or study with colorful posters placed in strategic places in the church
  • Be excited about your ministry and share the things you are learning in conversations with those ladies not attending
  • Look for ways your group can meet the needs of all the ladies in your church
  • Poll the ladies of the church to see what they would like to get from your ministry
  • Have an informal get-together with finger foods to let the ladies of the church become more personally acquainted
  • Have special events such as Mother/Daughter teas, Valentine’s Banquets, painting parties, etc. to get the ladies interested in meeting together
  • Make sure your meetings and Bible Studies are bathed in prayer and are structured to provide spiritual growth for each lady in attendance

Let’s strive to enlist new ladies in our women’s ministries during this new year.

                                                                                                Brenda Hornaday

                                                                                                National WMA 1st Vice President
 
(1/2022)
 
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Reaching Women for Christ

February is the month that the Women’s Missionary Auxiliary promotes growth and enlistment to our ministry groups. God’s Word is filled with stories of how He has worked in and through the lives of women of all ages. These are great stories of women who were faithful in service.  Many of these stories portray women of different ages learning from each other and growing in their faith. Remember Miriam, the big sister who watched over her little brother Moses hidden in the reeds along the Nile, yet she dared speak to the princess to protect him (Ex. 2:1-10)? Then there are the stories of relationships like Naomi and Ruth (the book of Ruth) or Elizabeth and Mary (Lk. 1:39-56). When I read these stories in Scripture, I am reminded that God’s message is for every woman – no matter her age or season of life.   But when you look inside, we are still women with similar needs, desires, hang-ups and worries. By focusing on God’s message and encouraging women from each generation to serve and learn together, we will all be blessed and much richer for the experience.  Here are things to remember when building an intergenerational ministry for women: be intentional to reach and involve all ages, and minister to women of every generation; make sure women from every age group are part of the planning team and get their input and ideas; have women from each generation carry out the plan – serving in every area, side-by-side, using their gifts to the benefit of all, but especially the Kingdom; and produce, growth, friendship, and to be a blessing to each other.We have so much to learn from each other during every season of life. Focus on what each generation has to offer and allow these strengths and gifts to be used to the fullest. What a wonderful time we will have! Here are some questions to think about when looking at your women’s group:

  • Is your women’s ministry intent on creating a welcoming atmosphere for the regular attenders as well as quests?
  • Do you know what criterion first-time quests use to decide if they will return to your church next Sunday, or if they will return to a service after visiting your women’s ministry?
  • What kinds of things draw them; what pushes them away?
  • How do the women in your church relate to each other?
  • What does a quest see when she walks in the door? Are there age-cliques?
  • Does she overhear gossip? “. . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).
  • Are your women’s ministry programs intent on developing mature relationships with Christ even if it means stepping out of comfort zones?
  • Is there involvement out of love for the Lord and others? “Now the God of peace . . . equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20-21).
To reach women for Christ, we must give a little and help a lot.  Women need spiritual nourishment and Biblical truths taught to them.  We need to use faith-building social media to keep them informed of things happening in our ministries.  Our groups should be a sisterhood of women who can share prayer requests, a listening ear, nonjudgmental advice, and a shoulder to cry on when needed.  So, get busy and call that lady and invite her to come with you to the next meeting.  Make her feel welcome and encourage her to become involved.  Sometimes all it takes is a text and asking to reach those ladies.  
 
Charlotte Johnson
National 1st VP
2/2020           
 
 
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Keeping this post on here; it’s good words for to show our appreciation to our pastors of our churches:
 

Pastor/Staff Appreciation October is coming, and the question is, “Have you thought about your pastor, youth minister and deacons’ appreciation for the service they do for your church?”  We shouldn’t just wait until one time of the year, but we should show appreciation often for the service they give to your church.  “Often pastors feel like they’re in a NASCAR race, It’s hard to manage it all. You hit the gas and you just go, go, go.”  I want you to know that I know being a pastor or church staff member is the most difficult job in the world. While it has unbelievable high, we know leading volunteer armies and facing an enemy (Satan and his demons) we may or may not encounter on a regular basis. Pastors have given their lives to serve people only a daily basis. Two of the most important words that we can ever say is “thank you.”

  1. Thank you for going to God on our behalf and praying for us daily.
  2. Thank you for studying God’s Word and communicating its truths to us in a compelling fashion.
  3. Thank you and your family for being willing to live in a fishbowl.
  4. Thank you for demonstrating grace, love and patience when people question your motives and competency. Sheep may be dumb, but they bite. And they have a taste for pastors and church staff.
  5. Thank you for putting in countless hours.
  6. Thank you for being men of impeccable character and integrity.
  7. Thank you to your spouses and children for their willingness to share you with us.
  8. Thank you for challenging and then helping us live a life of meaning and purpose.
  9. Thank you for presiding over the landmark moments of our lives—baptisms, weddings and funerals.
  10. Thank you for having the courage to tell us about the sin in our lives and our need for repentance and a Savior.
  11. Thank you for walking with us through tragedy, marital troubles, raising children and life’s great challenges.
  12. Thank you for the periodic phone calls, texts and emails just to see how we are doing.
  13. And most of all, thank you for not quitting each Monday.
  14.  

In conclusion, we will thank you every day of eternity for serving us, the church and our Lord so well. “Thank you” is not nearly enough, but I hope these two words encourage you today.

Churches need to recognize the hard work that the pastor and his staff accomplish for the church and the Lord.  How to do this?  Gift cards, handwritten notes, a money tree, a vacation package, detail their cars, baby sit their kids for a night out to eat, old fashion pounding (for those who don’t know what this is—it is staple foods given by members called a pounding), a new suit, but the best gift is your faithful attendance to church services.
 
Charlotte Johnson
1st Vice President